Biotechnology and Its ApplicationsNEET MCQs with solutions
Biotechnology and Its Applications covers genetically modified organisms (Bt cotton, Golden Rice), gene therapy, molecular diagnostics (PCR, ELISA), transgenic animals and bioethics. NEET questions test specific examples — which gene does what, which organism was modified for what purpose. Factual recall dominates, so a clean revision table is your best weapon.
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- 12 Biology
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- 24 questions
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- 599 questions
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Practise 24 questions
Tap an option to check it. Questions from every NCERT topic in this chapter, from easy to hard.
Q1Important PYQ Mixed Concepts
An insect-resistant transgenic plant produces Bt protoxin. What condition in the insect gut is primarily responsible for converting the protoxin into its active insecticidal form?
Not quite — the answer is B.
The Bt protein is produced as an inactive protoxin in the plant; the alkaline pH of the insect gut solubilises the crystals and converts the protoxin into its active insecticidal form. Acidic pH is the classic reversal trap and is characteristic of human gastric juice, not susceptible insect guts. Neutral pH and high temperature do not activate the protoxin.
Q2Important PYQ Mixed Concepts
Golden Rice was developed primarily to address which nutrient-related deficiency problem?
Not quite — the answer is C.
Golden Rice is genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible part of rice. It was therefore developed to combat vitamin A (provitamin A) deficiency. Iron deficiency is a deliberately attractive nutrition-related distractor. Vitamins C and B12 are unrelated to the genetic modification incorporated in Golden Rice.
Q3RNA Interference (RNAi)
RNA interference (RNAi) primarily silences gene expression at which stage?
Not quite — the answer is A.
RNAi acts post-transcriptionally — the mRNA is transcribed normally but is subsequently degraded by the RISC complex guided by siRNA, preventing translation. It does not act on DNA or RNA polymerase directly.
Q4RNA Interference (RNAi)
Which structural feature of the RNA molecule introduced into engineered plants makes it capable of initiating RNAi?
Not quite — the answer is B.
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the trigger for RNAi. Its complementarity to the target mRNA allows the antisense strand (after Dicer cleavage) to guide RISC to the correct mRNA for degradation.
Q5Mixed Revision
Which biotechnology application specifically involves silencing a nematode gene rather than producing an insecticidal protein?
Not quite — the answer is A.
RNA interference in tobacco plants silences specific genes of the nematode Meloidogyne incognita, as described in NCERT. Bt cotton uses Cry proteins (insecticidal protein production). Golden Rice involves beta-carotene biosynthesis. Recombinant insulin involves protein production in E. coli. None of B, C, D involves gene silencing in a nematode.
Q6Mixed Revision
A DNA sequence from a pathogen is present in a patient sample in extremely small quantity. Which technique is most appropriate to amplify this specific sequence?
Not quite — the answer is B.
PCR uses repeated cycles of denaturation, primer annealing and extension to exponentially amplify a selected DNA sequence. ELISA detects antigen-antibody interactions and does not amplify DNA. Western blot detects proteins. Southern blotting detects specific DNA sequences but does not amplify them.
Q7Grand Test
Which genetically engineered organism was used by Eli Lilly to prepare human insulin?
Not quite — the answer is A.
Eli Lilly used genetically engineered E. coli for production of human insulin. DNA sequences corresponding to the A and B chains were introduced separately into E. coli and the two chains were later combined through disulphide bonds. Bacillus thuringiensis is associated with Bt crops, whereas Agrobacterium is used in plant genetic engineering.
Q8Grand Test
A genetically modified crop survives a herbicide that kills surrounding weeds. Which advantage is being demonstrated?
Not quite — the answer is D.
The genetically modified crop is engineered to tolerate the herbicide, allowing weeds to be eliminated while the crop survives. Bt resistance targets insects, Golden Rice addresses nutritional improvement and RNAi can silence specific pest genes.
Q9Molecular Diagnosis (PCR and ELISA)
Which technique amplifies specific DNA segments allowing detection of pathogens even when present in very low concentration?
Not quite — the answer is A.
PCR exponentially amplifies specific DNA sequences using thermostable Taq polymerase, enabling pathogen detection even from minute quantities. ELISA detects proteins, not nucleic acids. Gel electrophoresis and centrifugation only separate molecules, they do not amplify.
Q10Molecular Diagnosis (PCR and ELISA)
Which molecular diagnostic technique is based on antigen–antibody interaction?
Not quite — the answer is B.
ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) relies on specific antigen–antibody binding for detection. Southern and Northern blotting detect DNA and RNA respectively using nucleic acid hybridization, not antigen-antibody reactions.
Q11Biosafety
Which concept encompasses guidelines and practices ensuring safe development, use, and release of genetically modified organisms?
Not quite — the answer is A.
Biosafety refers to policies and procedures ensuring that biotechnology research and GMO release do not harm human health or the environment. The other options relate to IP exploitation, resource exploration, and pollution cleanup respectively.
Q12Biosafety
Which international protocol specifically regulates transboundary movement of living modified organisms?
Not quite — the answer is B.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000) regulates the safe transfer, handling, and use of LMOs across national borders. Kyoto and Paris deal with climate change; Montreal addresses ozone depletion.
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Get RankUp on Google PlayQ13Biopesticides (Bt Crops)
Which bacterium is the natural source of Cry genes used in Bt crops?
Not quite — the answer is A.
Cry genes originate from Bacillus thuringiensis, a gram-positive soil bacterium that produces insecticidal crystalline proteins during sporulation. Agrobacterium is a vector, not a Cry gene source.
Q14Biopesticides (Bt Crops)
Bt cotton was engineered primarily to resist which of the following?
Not quite — the answer is B.
Bt cotton expresses Cry1Ac protein targeting lepidopteran larvae such as bollworms. It has no engineered resistance to fungal, bacterial, or viral pathogens.
Q15Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is best defined as the technique of:
Not quite — the answer is A.
Gene therapy corrects genetic disorders by introducing a functional gene copy into target cells, compensating for the defective one. Options B, C, D describe destructive or unrelated processes not aligned with gene therapy principles.
Q16Gene Therapy
Adenosine deaminase deficiency primarily affects which physiological system?
Not quite — the answer is C.
ADA deficiency causes accumulation of toxic deoxyadenosine in lymphocytes, severely impairing immune function. The immune system — not digestive, respiratory, or nervous — is the primary target of ADA enzyme activity.
Q17Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins
Which recombinant product was the first therapeutic protein produced using recombinant DNA technology for medical use?
Not quite — the answer is A.
Recombinant human insulin, produced by Eli Lilly using E. coli, was the first commercially available therapeutic protein made via recombinant DNA technology. Interferon and growth hormone came later in the recombinant protein timeline.
Q18Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins
Which microorganism was used by Eli Lilly to produce the first recombinant human insulin?
Not quite — the answer is B.
E. coli was genetically engineered with synthetic DNA sequences coding for human insulin A and B chains separately, then the chains were combined chemically. Agrobacterium is used in plant transformation; Bacillus thuringiensis produces Bt toxin.
Q19Ethical Issues in Biotechnology
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety primarily regulates which biotechnology-related activity?
Not quite — the answer is B.
The Cartagena Protocol specifically governs the safe transboundary movement, handling, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) that may affect biodiversity. It does not regulate fertilisers, vaccines, or mineral extraction.
Q20Ethical Issues in Biotechnology
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is a supplementary agreement under which international treaty?
Not quite — the answer is C.
The Cartagena Protocol was adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) — it operationalises the CBD's biosafety provisions. The UNFCCC governs climate; WHO constitution governs health — neither is the parent treaty of the Cartagena Protocol.
Q21Biopatent
Which term refers to the legal rights granted to inventors over a biological invention developed through biotechnology?
Not quite — the answer is A.
A biopatent confers exclusive legal ownership over biological inventions or processes, incentivising innovation. Biosafety, bioprospecting, and bioremediation are separate concepts unrelated to IP ownership.
Q22Biopatent
Which concept describes the unethical appropriation of biological resources or traditional knowledge without fair compensation?
Not quite — the answer is B.
Biopiracy involves exploiting biological resources or traditional knowledge of indigenous communities without authorization or equitable benefit sharing. Bioprospecting is legal exploration; benefit sharing is the ethical remedy.
Q23Transgenic Animals
Animals whose genomes contain a gene introduced from another organism through genetic engineering are called:
Not quite — the answer is A.
Transgenic animals carry a foreign gene stably integrated into their genome via genetic engineering. Hybrid animals arise from interspecific crosses; cloned animals are genetically identical copies — neither involves deliberate foreign gene insertion.
Q24Transgenic Animals
Which transgenic cow, mentioned in NCERT, produced milk enriched with human alpha-lactalbumin?
Not quite — the answer is A.
Rosie was the first transgenic cow whose milk contained human alpha-lactalbumin, making it nutritionally superior for human infants. Dolly was a cloning experiment; Tracy (a sheep) produced alpha-1-antitrypsin — not alpha-lactalbumin.
ELITE question · AIR under 50 level
This chapter has 334 ELITE questions for students aiming at the very top. They are only in the app.
Unlock ELITE questions in the appKey Applications
Quick revision: most questions in this chapter test these facts.
| Application | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Bt cotton | cry genes (cry1Ac, cry2Ab) from Bacillus thuringiensis; Bt toxin kills bollworm larvae |
| Golden Rice | Engineered with beta-carotene biosynthesis genes for Vitamin A fortification |
| Gene therapy | ADA deficiency — first gene therapy; functional ADA gene introduced into lymphocytes |
| PCR (diagnostics) | Amplifies DNA; detects HIV, genetic mutations; uses Taq polymerase |
| ELISA | Antigen-antibody based; detects HIV antibodies, pathogen proteins |
| Transgenic animals | Used for vaccine testing, drug production (e.g. human protein α-1-antitrypsin in sheep) |
What the app covers in this chapter
599 questions in total, each with a detailed explanation.
| Important PYQ Mixed Concepts | 99 |
| RNA Interference (RNAi) | 80 |
| Mixed Revision | 60 |
| Grand Test | 59 |
| Molecular Diagnosis (PCR and ELISA) | 41 |
| Biosafety | 41 |
| Biopesticides (Bt Crops) | 40 |
| Gene Therapy | 40 |
| Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins | 40 |
| Ethical Issues in Biotechnology | 40 |
| Biopatent | 39 |
| Transgenic Animals | 20 |
Questions students ask
Is Biotechnology and Its Applications important for NEET?
Yes — questions on Bt crops, gene therapy, transgenic animals and molecular diagnostics appear frequently. The chapter is factual and scoring if you know the specific examples.
Which topics should I revise first?
Focus on Bt cotton (cry genes, mechanism), gene therapy for ADA deficiency, molecular diagnostics (PCR vs ELISA), Golden Rice and transgenic animal applications.
How many questions from this chapter are on RankUp?
The RankUp app has 599 questions on Biotechnology and Its Applications, including 334 ELITE questions written for students aiming at AIR under 50. Every question has a detailed explanation.
